The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 960 - 939: Promise (Bonus - for the reward from "Butterfly Loves Flowers")

Chapter 960: Chapter 939: Promise (Bonus Chapter for the reward from "Butterfly Loves Flowers")

Bai Erlang pointed at them and said, "You really have no shame in saying those words. Doesn’t the teacher always tell us that there are heavens beyond this heaven and people beyond this world?"

Manbao said, "That’s said to the two of us, not to you."

Bai Erlang: "Then what should be said to me?"

Bai Shan stood up, imitating the teacher’s manner, with his hands behind his back and a solemn face, he said, "Erlang, do not belittle yourself."

Manbao clapped her hands and laughed, "Exactly, that’s how it should be."

Bai Erlang looked puzzled and asked, furrowing his little brows, "Why are the terms for me different from yours?"

Manbao sighed, "Because Shanbao and I are not good; we are too proud."

Bai Erlang always felt she was not criticizing themselves but boasting instead. However, seeing her with a face full of embarrassed gravity, he couldn’t produce any evidence to the contrary.

Bai Erlang gathered his spirits and snorted, turning away from them. After a while, he turned back and said, "If I truly get admitted to the Highest Institute, then you two must treat me to a meal at Primus Pavilion again. And if I don’t get in, that means what you said was wrong, and you owe me a meal."

Manbao turned to Bai Shan and said, "Has Junior Brother lost his mind? Do we look like fools?"

Bai Shan shook his head, "Not at all."

Bai Erlang glared at them.

Manbao said, "Where does it work that way? Win, and it benefits you; lose, and it still benefits you?"

After pondering for a moment, Bai Shan said, "Well then, if you do get into the Highest Institute, that would be a cause for celebration. For such a happy occasion, how could you not treat us to a meal? But if you only make it into four of the Academies, that would indeed be regrettable. Although it’s your aspiration, I think you’d certainly feel sad about it, so how about Manbao and I treat you to a meal then?"

Bai Erlang asked, "What if I don’t get into even four of the Academies?"

Bai Shan silently looked at him without speaking.

In those couple of days, it was Manbao who had been revising with Bai Erlang. Although she didn’t quite understand the capabilities of other students, she believed based on Feng Zongping’s judgment that Bai Shan’s abilities were not bad, and there was a high likelihood he could be admitted to the Imperial Academy.

Then estimating Bai Erlang’s abilities based on Bai Shan’s...

Judging by the topics they discussed upon returning home these past few days, their scripture annotations and ink meanings had no major issues. The few points where Bai Erlang was uncertain, after Manbao listened, she thought a strict examiner might deduct points, but they shouldn’t deduct everything, so...

Manbao confidently said, "If you don’t get into even four of the Academies, Bai Shan and I will treat you to two meals." And then we’ll give you a beating twice!

Manbao and Bai Shan exchanged glances.

Only then did Bai Erlang feel at ease.

The three of them waited until the afternoon wasn’t too hot and then went out to stroll the streets, mainly to look for a bookstore.

Looking for a bookstore near the Six Academies was of course impossible, as nearby residences were too expensive, and most shops could neither afford the rent nor the purchase.

So they strolled down from the Six Academies and after half a street, they found the bookstore.

Three shops nearby in a row, and the surrounding stalls were full of paintings, wood carvings, and other things that scholars loved to buy.

Many of these things were ones that Bai Shan and the others had not seen much before. The intricacies of the designs truly updated their knowledge, and these things did not seem too expensive.

At a small stall, Bai Shan found a uniquely designed brush stand. Upon asking, it was only two silvers, and he whispered to Manbao, "No wonder County Magistrate Yang wasn’t very surprised when we gave him a brush stand back then; it turns out the capital has so many strange scholar’s items."

Manbao nodded, holding a paperweight, examining it, and also whispered, "It’s really unique, far more varied than the ones we’ve seen in Yizhou City."

Bai Shan and Bai Erlang nodded repeatedly.

Therefore, they decided not to easily spend money to buy, or else how much money would they need to buy all these good things?

How long would it take before they could use all of them?

The three restrained their desire to shop and turned to enter the bookstore.

Entering the bookstore, the temptation was somewhat reduced because most of the items inside were books.

Bai Erlang didn’t want to buy books; Bai Shan thought the collection at the Imperial Academy would certainly be richer than at the bookstores; Manbao wanted to save money, planning on borrowing Bai Shan’s books, so she didn’t buy lightly either.

The three browsed a round in the bookstore, didn’t find any books they particularly liked, and then started to pick out writing brushes and ink.

You can’t buy this stuff from a street stall outside, because good brushes can basically only be found in major bookstores. No matter how finely made those on the outside appear, they can’t compare to the production of famous brands.

As the shop owner watched them, he sized up their clothes, which, although made of ordinary silk, were well-fitted and nearly new, and noticed a tall and sturdy bodyguard following the trio.

With a faint smile, he turned and took out a box from behind the shelf and said, "These brushes do not satisfy the young master? Perhaps you’d like to have a look at this one."

The shop owner opened the box for Bai Shan.

Bai Shan knew it was expensive as it was individually boxed, he took it and examined it closely, then handed it to Manbao.

Manbao also carefully looked and even gently touched the brush tip, nodding slightly, "Not bad."

Bai Erlang took it, examined the brush by rotating it, and upon seeing a familiar mark, he said, "Isn’t this just a lake brush from the Zhai Family? My father said it’s not even as good as the Sichuan brush, which is what the teacher uses."

Manbao insisted, "It’s fine. Shopkeeper, do you have other brushes?"

The shopkeeper, realizing they knew their stuff, smiled and said, "Of course. How many would the young masters and miss like to buy? Are you all looking for this kind of top-quality brush?"

Manbao thought for a moment and nodded, "Probably. Let’s see how good your stock is first."

The shopkeeper invited them to sit in a small room next door and then brought over two boxes of brushes. As they opened the boxes, each contained four brushes. Bai Shan inspected them and found each one not inferior to the one that was alone in a box, and he started to feel satisfied.

The shopkeeper said with a smile, "This is indeed the Sichuan brush that young master just mentioned, and this box contains all lake brushes. However, the best brushes right now have to be Xuan brushes. Would the young masters and miss like to have a look?"

The three shook their heads together. Xuan brushes were tribute items, and even those that circulated outside were not as good as the tribute brushes. Having the reputation of a tribute product meant something worth a couple of silvers could sell for three.

Bai Shan and the others currently didn’t need Xuan brushes to add prestige to their appearance and naturally chose what was more economical.

Bai Shan loved to write, so he was more picky with brushes and ink. Knowing this, Manbao also picked very attentively for him.

After picking three brushes Bai Shan set them aside and asked, "Is there more?"

The shopkeeper then brought over another two boxes and said, "All of them are here."

After Manbao inquired about the price and picked two brushes, Bai Erlang, thinking that after all he was going to study at the Imperial Academy, also picked two with gusto.